CHARLOTTE The Panthers will be withoutTommy Tremblefor the rest of OTAs and minicamp after the veteran tight end had back surgery last week.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the goal is for Tremble to return to rehab during training camp, which should still put him in a position to be ready for the regular season.

"Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery," Canales said Tuesday. "We were kind of thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that, and just felt like for him to give him the (time). He's 25 years old. You know, let's get this thing while he's young and strong and be able to just get back on the right track."

Tremble dealt with some back issues last season, and missed some game time.

But he also became a more dependable part of the passing game over the second half of the season, as quarterback Bryce Young began to hit his stride.

Tremble finished the year with a season-high 234 receiving yards despite playing just 12 games.

He also capped the year by being on the receiving end of Young's iconic no-look touchdown in Atlanta in the finale, which gave his quarterback confidence that he'd continue those strides when he was back.

"He was huge, he's going to continue to be huge," Young said Tuesday. "Tommy is a super hard worker, someone who brings so much intensity and ferocity to the position, to the team, to us as a group, as a unit.

"I know we're expecting him to be back. He's going to be a huge part of the offense moving forward, too."

Tremble signed a two-year contract this offseason, to keep the former third-rounder here as part of the Class of 2021.

As for other injuries that kept guys off the field for Tuesday's voluntary session, Canales mentioned that outside linebackerD.J. Wonnum(back) was held out, along with wide receiverJalen Coker, who is coming back from some "soft-tissue" issues.

Defensive tackleDerrick Brownwas back on the field but not participating fully as he comes back from last year's knee issue, and veteran right tackleTaylor Motonalso worked on the side Tuesday.

"He's feeling great though," Canales said of Brown. "And he's feeling more and more confident with the change of direction, body on body, you know, getting some weight-bearing type of things that way.

"So, they're all progressing, they're all getting after it, no setbacks right now. Guys are just taking leaps every day."